"We were a unit tonight, moving as one. Even apart, we are deadly, but when combined – we are f**kin’ unstoppable." ~~ God ~~

Atlanta's notorious narcotics task force is at it again. They are stronger, bigger, and better than ever. Especially when a city councilman sends RECON Marine, Edwin Steele - who’s been blacklisted from his Oakland department - to join the team. God and Day weren't recruiting. They have a lot on their plates, like the fact they're supposed to be getting married soon. They don't have the time or the patience to integrate a decorated war hero with a slight chip on his shoulder into their well-oiled machine.

A hothead that's uncontrollable and terrible with authority… but wasn’t that their team motto?

Steele was ready to hang up his shield. He was done fighting with bigoted bastards that couldn't respect the job. He was good at fighting; he just needed the right team to fight with. When his uncle - City Councilman, Rasmus Steele - shows him a video of God's team in action, he knows right away, it's where his nephew belongs in order to restore his faith.

Steele pointed to the driver, a behemoth of a man wielding those massive firearms like a true beast… like a soldier. “And him. Who the hell is he?”

Steele was skeptical about his new placement, but when he meets God's technology specialist/computer genius, “Tech,” he's willing to give it his all, and he definitely shows and proves.

Tech is stunning. His sweater vest and khakis, a stark contrast to the blue-jeaned roughnecks he works with. A beautiful sheep amongst the wolves. Steel thinks there's no way the brilliant man would be interested in a hardhead like him, but Tech has a few badass hidden talents of his own and manages to surprise him... surprise all of them.

This story is a part of a series but can stand alone. It does not end on a cliffhanger and has a HEA. There are no multiple pairings in this novel.

“It’s not important.” Both their voices were low, as if there were someone else around to hear.

“I didn’t ask if it was important.”

“This is my job and I do what I’m required.”

“But....”

“There’s no but. It’s nothing. I’m happy where I am.” Tech looked down at his wrist, which was still in Steele’s grasp, but instead of just holding it, Steele was rubbing his thumb across his pulse, carefully watching him. Tech exhaled slowly. He could feel himself vibrating with hunger for this man. He wished he could stop it. All he could do was pretend he wasn’t fazed by it all. By Steele’s magnificence. Yes, he was just a man. An amazing man who wasn’t afraid to risk his life for a stranger. Who fought for something bigger than himself. That meant something to Tech… it meant a lot. Steele was the exact type of man, soldier, like the ones that’d tried to save his brother in a war he should’ve never been in. Even though that black ops team wasn’t able to save his brother’s whole squadron, they’d saved a lot of them. Steele was that type of man, and it made Tech feel empowered just being near him. Not wanting Steele to see his infatuation, he tried to appear casual.

“You are lying to me.” Steele stood up and crowded into Tech’s smaller frame, moving him back against the cool brick wall. Trapping him there, Steele’s chest persistent against his own. So close together, Tech could feel the solid planes there. Could smell the scent of the masculine soap Steele washed with this morning. He held the back of Tech’s neck in one hand and pressed the back of his other hand up under his chin, just to the left of his Adam’s apple. Two fingers pushed against the pulse now throbbing just beneath the tender skin. Steele’s touch burned in a delicious way. His head was lowered, that raspy stubble scraping against Tech’s smooth temple, his intense eyes closed in deep concentration while Steele broke apart the lie Tech was trying so desperately to construct.

“What’s not all, Tech?” Steele spoke. His mouth moving against his temple, his voice coarse and smooth at the same time.

“I told you. Nothing. I misspoke.” Tech shook against Steele’s proximity, begging his lower body not to react. He felt the back of the two fingers push in deeper, forcing him to lift his head.

“You’re lying,” Steele hissed. He flipped his hand over and spread it out over Tech’s throat, those two fingers still pressed over his pulse while the others rested over his Adam’s apple. “The way I’m touching you right now. Is it turning you on?”

“What? No.” Tech laughed nervously, his hands lying limp by his side, unsure what to do with them.

He felt Steele’s lips curve up. Did he know Tech lied about that too?

Carra's Review

How is it possible that this series still keeps getting even better? I don't know how A.E. Via does it, but she's continuing to totally knock it out of the ballpark here in Nothing Special V. This time around, we get one of my favorite match-ups—a tech-type with an all-out macho badass. But guess what? Our tech guy is pretty badass himself! Plus we get to continue going deeper into the Atlanta PD Narcotics Task Force family, and I’m personally very happy entrenching myself with these guys again.

Tech is a computer guru—who’s also a closet tough guy in the making. I love this kind of character, because you know when he finally breaks out it’s going to be awesome—and Tech is definitely awesome! Incredibly intelligent, strong and ready to prove himself not just in the office, but out of it too. Enter Steele—a hard-nosed, get-it-done guy who is loyal, honest and fierce, and goes after what he wants. As soon as he meets the APD guys, what he wants-or rather WHO he wants-is Tech. They might seem like a mismatch at the beginning, but nothing could be further from the truth. These two together will positively melt your e-reader.

One thing I loved about this story was that we got to see where the other characters from the previous books were in their lives, and we get lots more of Day and God (you can never have enough of those two!). While this story does center on Tech and Steele, all of the characters play an equally important part in this big family, and I was thrilled to get more of everyone in this book. There’s plenty of action as always, and a healthy dose of laughs, tension and just darn good storytelling as well. I did not want to put this book down, and once I was done I still wanted more. This is definitely an edge-of-your-seat story—just like the rest of the series.

Nothing Special V was another 5-star read for me, and continues to keep this entire series on my Top Recommendations list. While this certainly can be read as a standalone, personally I’d recommend reading the books of this series in order as it will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the story. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and M/M sexual content (keep those fans and buckets of ice handy—you’re going to need them!). Nothing would make me happier than to see this series keep going-I don’t think I’m anywhere near having my fill of these guys yet!

About the Author

A.E. Via is an author in the beautiful gay romance genre and also founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books. Her writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.

When she’s not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family—a husband and four children. Adrienne Via has tons of more stories to tell, but she really would like to hear yours. Via Star Wings Books is currently accepting submissions for established and aspiring LGBTQ authors.

Visit my site to learn more! Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she’ll appear next

Ryder Daniels and Jason Mallory seem to have it all but even the most loving marriage takes work. Ryder's past leads him to remain silent yet resentful in the face of conflict while Jason strives to prove he can take care of his family without Ryder's wealth, even if it costs him precious time with his husband and daughter.When a devastating illness leaves them shaken and helpless, Ryder is forced to face the one person he never thought to see again with a life or death request that even he isn't sure will be granted, but his decisions have far-reaching consequences. Believing he and Ryder have no secrets, Jason is distraught to discover otherwise, revealing yet another crack in their once-perfect relationship.Adrift and uncertain, both struggle to hold onto a love previously thought unshakable. A forbidden past is exposed, shocking Ryder to the core, but it means little without Jason by his side. Marriage is a true partnership and both men must learn that only by working through their pain and heartbreak together can they achieve a lifetime of love.

Four-year-old Gemma’s plaintive cry split the night. Ryder squinted at the glowing numbers on the digital clock next to his bed. Three a.m. Sh*t. Nothing good ever happened at this hour of the night, or morning, if he wanted to get technical. Maybe it was a bad dream, even though Gemma rarely woke up at night anymore.

He settled down beneath the warmth of the comforter, preparing to fall back asleep. Jason moved closer to him, and Ryder slid his foot down Jason’s calf, relishing the scrape of his hairy leg. As long as he was up, it shouldn’t be a total loss. Ryder kissed Jason’s naked shoulder and licked up his strong neck, the steady pulse of life quickening beneath his lips. Jason’s sighs spurred him on, and Ryder smiled to himself, unsure whether his husband was fully awake, but that didn’t stop him from palming Jason’s ass and giving it a hard squeeze.

“Daddy, please. Come.”

Damn. No use. Fully awake now, Ryder slid out of bed, immediately missing Jason’s solid heat. Longingly he gazed back down at him splayed out in the center of the bed and shook his head with dismay. The man worked too damn hard. Jason had collapsed after they put Gemma to sleep the night before, barely able to stifle his yawns long enough to eat dinner. Mallory Brothers Construction had taken off in the past few years, and though Jason and Liam had hired several other architects and construction engineers to help alleviate the load of work they took on, Jason still tried to be as hands-on as possible. He and Ryder had numerous discussions about his long hours and how they kept him from being home with Gemma, but Jason insisted his presence was necessary, and Ryder backed off, unwilling to argue about it.

The past few weeks, Ryder tried to push dinner later and later, but Gemma had fallen asleep at the dinner table too many times for that to remain feasible. He loved the quiet times at night when they’d sit together and he’d read her a bedtime story, but Ryder missed having Jason beside him, sharing those special moments. The last thing Ryder wanted was for Jason to work so hard he missed Gemma’s childhood; his own father had missed his and Landon’s childhoods by burying himself in his work. Ryder wouldn’t allow Jason to do that, but he had to find a way to tell Jason without him getting upset.

“What’s wrong?” Jason mumbled, his face buried in the pillow. “I had a dream someone was copping a feel.” He turned his cheek on the pillow and mustered a tired smile. “Thought I was gonna get lucky.”

“You were about to, but Gemma woke up before I could make your dreams come true. Go back to sleep, babe.” Ryder leaned down to kiss Jason’s stubble-rough cheek. “She probably had a bad dream.”

“Mmm. Well, hurry back. I was dreaming of the beach, and you were my hot cabana boy.” He wiggled his ass. “I’m ready for my massage.”

Ryder snorted and rolled his eyes. “You’re insane.” But he couldn’t help kissing Jason’s smooth shoulder again. “Be right back,” he whispered against Jason’s skin, but all he received was an answering sleepy sigh.

Carra's Review

I loved Jason and Ryder in Rescued, so I was very happy to hear they were getting another story in Reunited. The two of them were just as sweet together here as they were before, but now we also got to see how they handled a terrible crisis together when it's constantly threatening to tear them apart.

Reunited does have a lot more angst and tension than Rescued did, and plenty of emotion thanks to the nature of the turmoil Jason and Ryder (as well as their families) go through in this story. This time around, the intimate scenes between them didn't quite fit for me given the reason behind all of the drama--I get that they needed release, but for me those scenes actually diverted my attention from the rest of the story. Normally I'm gung-ho for those scenes, especially with Jason and Ryder since their chemistry is fantastic, but not this time around. That doesn't mean those scenes weren't hot as heck though ;-)

Their families were again a great set of supporting characters, and I still can't stand Ryder's mother-regardless of everything that happens in this story-and still wanted to throttle her just as badly as I did in the first book.

Reunited is another great romance from Felice Stevens, and was a 3.5-star read for me. It did tie things up a bit too neatly in the end for me with Ryder's mom (I'm more of a grudge-holder I guess), but otherwise it's a solid story that M/M romance lovers are sure to enjoy. This one's for readers 18+ for adult language and M/M sexual content.

I have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner, my characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love.I live in New York City with my husband and two children and hopefully soon a cat of my own. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be a few bumps along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

Handcuffs aren’t just part of their job in this sizzling new standalone novel by USA Today bestselling author, Stacey Kennedy.

Veteran cop, Maddox Hunt, is all about the job. Sure, there are women—lots of women, truth be told—but there’s no one special. Until a one-night stand from his past, rookie Joss O’Neil is assigned to his division. Suddenly, all he can think about is her. The scent of her. The taste of her.

Fresh out of field training, Joss has thrown herself into her job, determined to kick-start her career. And while police work has its thrills, her gorgeous new boss is what really gets her pulse pounding. Too bad he’s nothing but a distraction. Especially since he’s as devastatingly handsome as she remembers, and his sexy smile arrests her heart.

Now that Joss is back in Maddox’s life, he has a plan: satisfy her fantasies and fulfill his every dark desire. Nothing is off limits. Her pleasure is the endgame . . . but even the best-laid plans have a way of falling apart. Despite his best attempts to keep his distance and have things remain only about the pleasure, Maddox soon finds himself breaking the only law he’s set for himself.Don’t fall in love.

STACEY KENNEDY is the USA Today bestselling author of the Dirty Little Secrets and Club Sin series. She writes deeply emotional romances about powerful men and the wild women who tame them. When she’s not writing sensual stories, she spends her time in southwestern Ontario with her real life hero, her husband, their two young children, and her other babies: a mini labradoodle named Jax and a chocolate labrador named Murphy. Stacey is a proud chocolate, television show, Urban Barn, and wine addict. She likes her heroes in her books like she likes her coffee . . . strong and hot!

The Impossible Boy - Anna Martin

Ben Easton is not your average romantic hero. He's a tattooed, badass, wannabe rock star, working in a perfectly horrible dive bar in Camden Town. His life is good, and he's totally unprepared for how one man will turn it upside down.

Stan isn't your average heroine. As a gender-fluid man, he proudly wears his blond hair long, his heels sky-high, and his make-up perfectly executed. A fashion industry prodigy, Stan is in London after stints working in Italy and New York City, and he quickly falls for Ben's devil-may-care attitude and the warm, soft heart Ben hides behind it.

Beneath the perfect, elegant exterior, Stan has plenty of scars from teenage battles with anorexia. And it only takes the slightest slip for his demons to rush back in while Ben's away touring with his band. With the band on the brink of a breakthrough, Ben is forced to find a way to balance the opportunity of a lifetime with caring for his beautiful boyfriend.

Carra's Review

Stories that go beyond the “norm” to touch on subjects that may be considered strange or outside the box can go one of two ways. They can either be so off-center and non-relatable that reading them turns into a WTF moment, or they can be so thought-provoking and simply fantastic that they become an instant favorite. The Impossible Boy is the latter, and I was truly moved by the beautiful relationship that develops between Stan and Ben.

Stan is what many people may see as a conundrum—physically male, but able to easily move between male and female in looks and mentality-essentially someone in-between genders. He identifies as gender fluid, and does not hide his true self from anyone. I found his character to be an inspiration, and thought his mature, contemplative attitude toward his self-identity was incredibly insightful, particularly when he’s explaining to his friend Tone who he is when Tone asks if he’s a boy or a girl.

Ben is just…amazing. He is the perfect example of someone loving a person for WHO they are, not what physical gender they are, just following his heart. He is exactly who we need to see in today’s world, and he’s is the ultimate partner for Stan. The two of them together for me was the definition of love, and the support Ben shows for Stan throughout the story had me falling for Ben as well.

The supporting characters are just as strong and well developed as both Ben and Stan, and I have to say that Tone was my favorite of that bunch. He is the best friend everyone would want, and the support he also gives Stan without treating him like a child is touching even with his rough-like character. This story would not have been the same without Tone, and I thought that Ben and Stan were lucky to have him.

Touching on the controversial subject of gender identity as well as the difficult topic of anorexia, The Impossible Boy is a moving story of unconditional love and support that I absolutely adored, and is worth all 5 stars I gave it…along with a spot on my Top Recommendations list. It is a story that I do highly recommend for any M/M romance fan, just be advised it is for readers 18+ for adult language, M/M sexual content (which was wonderfully and tastefully done), and mature subject matter. This book will make you think, and may open your eyes to so much more than what you’d find in your average love story…because The Impossible Boy is anything but average, and I for one think it’s exceptional.

Author Bio

Anna Martin is from a picturesque seaside village in the south west of England and now lives in Bristol. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English Literature at university before turning her hand as a professional writer.

Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, Anna is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theatre (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), visiting friends who live in other countries, Marvel Comics, learning new things, and Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk.

Although her most recent work is in the LGBT Adult Fiction genre, in the past Anna has worked on a variety of different projects including short stories, drabbles, flash fiction, fan fiction, plays for both children and adults, and poetry. She has written novels in the Teen/ Young Adult genre, Romance, and Fantasy novels.

Anna is, by her own admission, almost unhealthily obsessed with books. The library she has amassed is both large and diverse; "My favourite books," she says, "are The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood." She also several well-read copies of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park books and re-reads the Harry Potter novels with almost startling regularity.

Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, pre-reading and creative ass-kicking provided by her closest friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept any responsibility for anything Anna has written.

Three years ago, her brother’s death marked the beginning of Kendra’s new life, an existence with no home, no family, and no friends. Time in the underground byways toughened her emotional shell with the loose association of like-minded street rats where survival meant compromise and constant vigilance.

Before he died, Billy had sent her a package in care of his teammate, Conner. For Kendra, re-entrance into polite society comes with a deadly price, as betrayal comes from both sides of the grave.

Conner Crofton owns the BDSM club Ambrosia. After failing to protect his teammate on their last covert mission, penance takes form as a promise to safeguard Billy’s little sister, a girl he’d unknowingly remanded to a world of darkness and uncertainty, deception and psychopathic stalkers.

The past will always haunt us. Each must earn forgiveness and trust as passion, guilt, deception, and betrayal, interweave a destiny formed long ago. A romantic suspense with a twist.

“You? You own this animated horror show? Conner, what happened to you?” A decade ago, he and Billy had filled her head with fantasies only an innocent could dream, back when sex in a t-shirt carried the easy grace of a natural predator and filled her delusions of eternal love. Time had lent fuel to her imagination. Like a boiler that continued to build up too much pressure, her thoughts skated along the razor’s edge of a volcano. The age-old longing persisted despite current reality’s intervention and the memory of how Conner had led Billy into the military, to his death.

“Hello, Kendra. I’m glad you and your band could make it tonight. I look forward to hearing you sing again.” That sweltry intonation could curl an iron bar, yet there dwelt a deep sadness, as if memories pulled him down a road too often traveled.

An audible gulp. Her mouth opened and closed several times without issuing a sound.

She couldn’t look at him, not when her face flamed with the memories of first infatuation. The disappointment invading her mind now stung the back of her eyelids. “When did you turn into a pervert?” It was too much to bear. She needed the quiet and peaceful white noise of the street, wind chimes on someone’s front porch, a car backfiring, a breeze sifting through the trees and blowing the road’s detritus in small dust devils.

“Yeah, all it needs is some spider architecture, pointed hats, and magic wands. Oh, and I think you’re missing a vat of boiling oil.” Mumbled words lost the bite of her intent.

“Can’t say spiders do much for me, but we do have plenty of oil and violet wands. Most women think of them as magic.” Conner’s husky laugh scorched the knot in her throat like melted sand, changing its consistency until acid threatened to spew forth.

It seemed bystanders thought her a comedian or imbecile, their laughter creating more blazing heat to encompass her face.

Marc, brother of her current tormentor, took pity as he stepped forward. “Hi, Mackendra. It’s been a long time.” Sympathy radiated from him in waves to envelop her in a maelstrom of cloying, sickly sweet flashbacks she couldn’t handle. Of the four brothers, he’d been the nice one.

“Hi, Marc. Let me guess, you’re also part of this zoo?” Regardless of his intended sincerity, she couldn’t rest her gaze on either man. “This den of perverts?”

No! She couldn’t abide the company of men whose lives had been twisted by pain and despair, the last men to see her brother alive. Conner’s presence ushered Billy’s last words to fill her mind before he ditched her for another military stint, his final tour. “You’re being selfish, mongrel. I need to do this, protect my brothers. You’ll be safe here, yet they won’t be unless I go back. When I return, we’ll start a new chapter in life, together.”

Well that sure as hell happened. Just not the way I’d planned.

The physical ache in her heart wasn’t relieved with the pressure of fist against chest. She turned and ran, just as she always did when the agony of memories washed over her. She would never again allow anyone to witness her suffering.

Author Info

Reily Garrett is a West Coast girl transplanted to the East Coast. Past employments as an ICU nurse, private investigator, and military police officer has given her a host of different environments to add a real world feel to her writing.

Though her kids are her life, writing is her life after. The one enjoyed…after the kids are in bed or after they’re in school and the house is quiet. This is the time she kicks back with laptop, surrounded by her shepherds, to give her imagination free rein.

In life, hobbies can come and go according to our physical abilities, but you can always enjoy a good book. Life isn’t perfect, but your imagination can be. Relax, whether it’s in front of a fire or in your own personal dungeon. Take pleasure in a mental pause as you root for your favorite hero/heroine and bask in their accomplishments, then share your opinions over a coffee with your best friend (even if he’s four legged). Life is short. Cherish your time.

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